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Another lights thread (sorry!)

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Another lights thread (sorry!)

Old 11-04-12, 10:38 PM
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Another lights thread (sorry!)

The daylight savings time change hit me unawares - the last time I experienced it was 8 years ago, and I had forgotten - I also thought it would be end of this month. So I now have two fairly decent tail lights, and one decent head light - aimed at being seen. However, I don't really have a light that will help me see - the headlight I have is supposed to be 50 lumen, by dx.com(dealextreme) description. I don't think that is good enough to bike home in the dark though - and 6pm seems to be pretty dark after the time change.

I'm wading through the lights under $50 thread - thats a loong thread! But most of the recommendations are dx.com based, and while I am not averse to ordering from there, the shipping is really, really slow. So any other lights that I can buy here which would work, in a similar price range? Maybe all the way to $100 - though I'm cheap (and not rich) so that will be pushing my limit.

If you can suggest any other websites that sell the same stuff as dx.com (or ebay sellers who will ship the same stuff, but from the US), that would be helpful too.
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Old 11-04-12, 10:47 PM
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At least you didn't start a chain lube thread.

I bought a 3 pack of these for 20 bucks at Costco and made a set of snap on handlebar mounts out of a pop rivet and PVC. Super bright and super cheap. Outfitted three bikes for under 30 bucks total.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OHEf...eature=related
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Old 11-04-12, 11:03 PM
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Ira would you be able to post a picture of the mounts you made?
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Old 11-04-12, 11:29 PM
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You looking for flood, throw, or something in between? How much run time? Adverse to external power source?
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Old 11-04-12, 11:31 PM
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The Costco website doesn't have the 200 lumen lights, they have a (out-of-stock) Techlite 150 lumen set of two for $27. Will go down to the local Costco tomorrow and check - but thanks a lot for the suggestion. Will also check out Home Depot - I don't mind a big light, as long as I can find a way to mount it.

Edited to reply to no1mad:
I'm not sure actually - this is my first time buying lights. My commute is on lit streets (not very bright) and unlit MUP - so any suggestions on what I should be looking for? Shouldn't be totally unsuitable for the MUP, given that people may be walking there - so I like the two 150 lumen lights idea - can use both on the street if required, and only one on the MUP.
As to external power - AAA or AA would probably be better, since I already have a charger and some rechargeable batteries stocked - but I'm open to change.

Some more context - my commute is a total of 3 miles one way - about 1 mile on the MUP and two on the streets. Most streets are not very busy - and the one that is has a dedicated bike lane (but there are parked cars between the bike lane and the pavement).

Last edited by treadtread; 11-05-12 at 12:13 AM.
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Old 11-04-12, 11:54 PM
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No experience with this particular light, but it came highly recommended from another BF member who has used it (and a known 'flashaholic'). It will take 3xAAA, but you'll get a bit more output/runtime if you use 1x18650. This mount from the same vendor should work- might contact them prior to ordering to make sure.
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Old 11-05-12, 12:08 AM
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Originally Posted by no1mad
No experience with this particular light, but it came highly recommended from another BF member who has used it (and a known 'flashaholic'). It will take 3xAAA, but you'll get a bit more output/runtime if you use 1x18650. This mount from the same vendor should work- might contact them prior to ordering to make sure.
Thanks, I thought shiningbeam.com, like dx.com ships from China - I'll look around a bit more on that site.
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Old 11-05-12, 12:16 AM
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Originally Posted by treadtread
Thanks, I thought shiningbeam.com, like dx.com ships from China - I'll look around a bit more on that site.
I believe a bunch of their stuff is sourced out of China, but they do QC and stand behind what they sell. A bit more expensive, but the product will work. And they ship from Brooklyn... may want to contact to make sure they are up and running after the storm hit. They shipped pretty fast when I bought a charger from them.
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Old 11-05-12, 12:40 AM
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Does anyone have experience with this?
https://stupidbright.com/Products.php

Is that too bright for my intended use?
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Old 11-05-12, 06:23 AM
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I ordered from Keygos.com and the light came within a week from Hong Kong. They have a headlamp/bike light combo that works really well, and it comes with 2 18650 batteries and the charger. It was also only $33 US.

https://www.keygos.com/product_info.php?products_id=1156

(I'm not in any way related to the seller. I'm just a happy customer.)
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Old 11-05-12, 06:51 AM
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Originally Posted by treadtread
Does anyone have experience with this?
https://stupidbright.com/Products.php

Is that too bright for my intended use?
I've never heard of this particular brand so cannot say anything about their quality, however 1000 lumens is not too bright for city riding. I use a 1500 lumen light (that actually tests at about 1200 lumens) on the streets and it is great. It is a little brighter than an average car headlight on low beam (using my ultra-scientific "look at the car headlight pattern when they pass you from the rear and compare it to your bike headlight" method lol). Probably the only time a thousand lumens would be too bright is on a MUP because it would shine in the eyes of cyclists/pedestrians going the opposite way, but on the streets for the use you describe it is not too bright at all.
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Old 11-05-12, 06:57 AM
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I've ordered from shiningbeam several times. Bryan stands behind his products. Personally I wouldn't consider ordering anything from DX. Shipping takes way too long and QC is suspect. Right now, I'm using the Terralux 220 from Amazon. For $27, w/shipping, it's been a durable and dependable light. Comparable to any other AA out there.
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Old 11-05-12, 07:13 AM
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Originally Posted by treadtread
The daylight savings time change hit me unawares - the last time I experienced it was 8 years ago, and I had forgotten - I also thought it would be end of this month. So I now have two fairly decent tail lights, and one decent head light - aimed at being seen. However, I don't really have a light that will help me see - the headlight I have is supposed to be 50 lumen, by dx.com(dealextreme) description. I don't think that is good enough to bike home in the dark though - and 6pm seems to be pretty dark after the time change.

I'm wading through the lights under $50 thread - thats a loong thread! But most of the recommendations are dx.com based, and while I am not averse to ordering from there, the shipping is really, really slow. So any other lights that I can buy here which would work, in a similar price range? Maybe all the way to $100 - though I'm cheap (and not rich) so that will be pushing my limit.

If you can suggest any other websites that sell the same stuff as dx.com (or ebay sellers who will ship the same stuff, but from the US), that would be helpful too.
Shucks, I am the president of the "cheap and not rich club"...


Get one of the Magicshines or the knock offs. They start at about $40

You wanna see? You get the 3800, you will see the world, and the world will see you!!!

Get this, and you don't break the bank!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3x-CREE-XML-...item25704dbc6f




Or this..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1800Lm-CREE-...item2a21445fc3


Last edited by cehowardGS; 11-05-12 at 07:19 AM.
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Old 11-05-12, 09:11 AM
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Originally Posted by cehowardGS
Shucks, I am the president of the "cheap and not rich club"...


Get one of the Magicshines or the knock offs. They start at about $40

You wanna see? You get the 3800, you will see the world, and the world will see you!!!

Get this, and you don't break the bank!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3x-CREE-XML-...item25704dbc6f


Or this..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1800Lm-CREE-...item2a21445fc3
There's nothing wrong with your suggestions concerning the light but purchasing from China can have a long lead time. This seller (and there are others) ships from the US.
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Old 11-05-12, 09:51 AM
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Originally Posted by scoatw
I've ordered from shiningbeam several times. Bryan stands behind his products. Personally I wouldn't consider ordering anything from DX. Shipping takes way too long and QC is suspect. Right now, I'm using the Terralux 220 from Amazon. For $27, w/shipping, it's been a durable and dependable light. Comparable to any other AA out there.
The Terralux is a decent light, I've use one as a backup for a while. I almost needed it last night as I was reminded how li ion batteries need to be kept warm to avoid shortened run times in the cold.
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Old 11-05-12, 10:06 AM
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Originally Posted by megalowmatt
Ira would you be able to post a picture of the mounts you made?
Just took a 1 1/2 inch length of schedule 80 PVC (used for electrical conduit, very strong) cut it down the middle to get two U shaped pieces. To mate them back to back I first ground the point of contact between them flat and drilled a hole through both to be a snug fit for a large, short pop rivet and riveted them together and hammered down the rivet a bit more for a more flush fit.
A little smooth sanding to pretty it up.
Warmed it to about 300 degrees in a toaster over and quickly inserted the flashlight into one side and the other onto the handle bars. Let it cool and remove the light and take it off the bars, reheat it and slightly bend the curves for a "snap on" fit.
I also put a small round piece of adhesive backed velcro over the pop rivet so it won't scratch the handle bars or flashlight.


I didn't take any pics of the process but here is one of them on a bike.
If/ when I make another set I'll take some detailed pics and post them.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
S2.jpg (100.8 KB, 36 views)

Last edited by Ira B; 11-05-12 at 12:09 PM.
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Old 11-05-12, 11:23 AM
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I use the costco flashlights. I mount them to my handlebars with a pair of crossed hose clamps.
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Old 11-05-12, 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by cyccommute
There's nothing wrong with your suggestions concerning the light but purchasing from China can have a long lead time. This seller (and there are others) ships from the US.
Good point! From China is about 3 weeks give or take a week. Also, there is Tmart.com that also ships from the US too.
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Old 11-05-12, 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by mrosenlof
I use the costco flashlights. I mount them to my handlebars with a pair of crossed hose clamps.
That works but I wanted something that would snap on and off w/o tools and that looked nice and manufactured.

Heres another one I made on a different bike, holding a different flashlight ( POS from Wal-Mart) and painted blue instead of black. (sched 80 PVC is gray)
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IMG_7030.jpg (99.8 KB, 29 views)

Last edited by Ira B; 11-05-12 at 12:16 PM.
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Old 11-05-12, 12:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Ira B
Just took a 1 1/2 inch length of schedule 80 PVC (used for electrical conduit, very strong) cut it down the middle to get two U shaped pieces. To mate them back to back I first ground the point of contact between them flat and drilled a hole through both to be a snug fit for a large, short pop rivet and riveted them together and hammered down the rivet a bit more for a more flush fit.
A little smooth sanding to pretty it up.
Warmed it to about 300 degrees in a toaster over and quickly inserted the flashlight into one side and the other onto the handle bars. Let it cool and remove the light and take it off the bars, reheat it and slightly bend the curves for a "snap on" fit.
I also put a small round piece of adhesive backed velcro over the pop rivet so it won't scratch the handle bars or flashlight.


I didn't take any pics of the process but here is one of them on a bike.
If/ when I make another set I'll take some detailed pics and post them.
Thanks for that!
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Old 11-05-12, 12:48 PM
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Are any of you using thick "O" rings to attach the lights?
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Old 11-05-12, 03:00 PM
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Went to Costco, but the Techlite wasn't available - not there on their website either.
The keygos.com light was 220 lumen, and after including the cost of the mount, would have cost the same as the MagicShine knock-off which is (supposedly) 1200 lumen. The San Francisco based StupidBright said they don't offer any warranty at all other than the 7 day return. Tmart.com was more expensive than the ebay seller Cycommute linked, so I ended up getting that for $35.55.

Will arrive between the 8th and the 12th - will keep you guys updated.
Edited to add:
Another reason I ended up choosing that light is because the light has three brightness levels - so if it is too bright for the MUP I can tone it down a bit.

Last edited by treadtread; 11-05-12 at 03:02 PM. Reason: ..
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Old 11-05-12, 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by treadtread
Went to Costco, but the Techlite wasn't available - not there on their website either.
The keygos.com light was 220 lumen, and after including the cost of the mount, would have cost the same as the MagicShine knock-off which is (supposedly) 1200 lumen. The San Francisco based StupidBright said they don't offer any warranty at all other than the 7 day return. Tmart.com was more expensive than the ebay seller Cycommute linked, so I ended up getting that for $35.55.

Will arrive between the 8th and the 12th - will keep you guys updated.
Edited to add:
Another reason I ended up choosing that light is because the light has three brightness levels - so if it is too bright for the MUP I can tone it down a bit.
The Keygos light I linked to is 1200 lumens, or at least very generously rated at that. Even if only half that it is still plenty bright. I like that it is self contained, comes with everything including 2 batteries and is flexible for other uses. It was our backup light during Hurricane Sandy. When you shine it at the ceiling the entire room is light enough to read in although it has an eerie glow. Luckily we didn't need it.

I'm sure there are better lights, but every time I start pricing it out it comes to a lot more than $33.
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Old 11-05-12, 04:35 PM
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Originally Posted by zacster
The Keygos light I linked to is 1200 lumens, or at least very generously rated at that. Even if only half that it is still plenty bright. I like that it is self contained, comes with everything including 2 batteries and is flexible for other uses. It was our backup light during Hurricane Sandy. When you shine it at the ceiling the entire room is light enough to read in although it has an eerie glow. Luckily we didn't need it.

I'm sure there are better lights, but every time I start pricing it out it comes to a lot more than $33.
You're right, my mistake. The shiningbeam was 220 lumen - the keygos site said 14 day delivery which is why I eliminated that from my short list. Light looked good though.

But my purchase has sprung a leak. Just received an automated message from the ebay seller I bought the light from stating that she is out of office till the 9th because her boyfriend is in the hospital with stomach cramps - so it doesn't seem likely that I will get the light soon after all

I'll see how dark it gets tonight, and if really required, drive in for a few days. Oh well ..
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Old 11-05-12, 06:46 PM
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Originally Posted by treadtread
Does anyone have experience with this?
https://stupidbright.com/Products.php

Is that too bright for my intended use?
IMO, you can't go too bright for the bicycle.. It is war out there on the streets..

IMO again, that light would be perfect for you..
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